A Dismal Day In Weston Super Mare

Finally managed to get tickets for the penultimate day of the Dismaland Bemusement Park, after weeks of trying, and making sure I saw as little as possible about it, because I wanted to go with as few preconceptions as possible. The weather was glorious, the size of the queue was staggering, but we were there. I loved it from the moment I was through the door, the security guard checking my ticket and confirming my similarity to the non existent photo on my ticket had me creased. Screening equipment and guns created by Bill Barminski.The staff were such a vital part of the experience. The detail that went into this was amazing I uploaded one of the shots to facebook and it’s facial recognition software wanted me to tag all of them. The fact that the controls randomly change from the refugee vessel to western naval vessel, sending a clear message. Must have seen hundreds of pics of this before I went, but it is good. Can’t remember what this installation was called, but I’ve seen this sight far too often…Hook a Duck…from an oil slick…win a fish finger in a bag. Dorcas Casey , brilliant sculptures created from fabric, somehow. Polly Morgans take on the rabbit that turned. Erm well, if you know,you know… Ronit Baranga, ceramicist, I adore these, anybody want to buy me some for Christmas? Mike Ross, created the awesome Big Jig Rig, apparently the park had to close early one day because of high winds, don’t think I’d like to see this shaking in the breeze. James Joyce revolving smiley face “Here for a Good Time Not a Long Time”. Tattooed baby in a vending machine by Dietrich Wegner. Banksys’ vision of the Grim Reaper and what he does in his spare time, rides around in a dodgem while listening to the Bee Gees Stayin’ Alive… who knew?‘Mental Escapology’ by Damien Hirst.

Jeff Gillette, stunning stuff.Brock Davis, making wonderful use of everyday objects. Kate MacDowell producer of exquisite figures in porcelain. Portrait by Laura Lancaster, who started painting her own family photos because she never knew who was who as she has a twin sister. Lithuanian artist, Severija Incirauskaite-Kriauneviciene, recreates traditional patterns and floral embroidery designs on things like cars. Jessica Harrison,creates beautiful tattooed ladies. Maskull Laserres striking study of the anatomy of a carousel horse.Compelling portrait by Shadi Al Zaqzouq, Palestinian artist. Ben Long ‘Cornice Ice Cream’ Neta Harari Navaon, surreal photorealistic paintings, breathtaking. Banksy, doesnt have any issue with Disney, must just be mice then… The Aftermath Displacement Principle by Jimmy Cauty, the most fantastic and annoying thing at once. My only irritation of the day was that we were rushed around this and not able to have a proper look, the security fence didn’t help. Sadly the fence wasn’t there at the beginning of the exhibition, but was put in place due to over enthusiastic trophy hunters stealing the figures. The gloriously dark Dismaland castle was created by Block 9 (of Glastonbury fame),and is currently en route to the migrant camp in Calais.Dismal bossy britches. Death of a princess, clever and yet disturbing. Huda Beydouns portraits of girls and women in Saudi Arabia wearing Burqas, the mouse heads are used to conceal the womens true identity to protect them from deportation. This young lady was an absolute star on the Crazy Gulf, a proper jobsworth, I could have watched her all day!Supersize sand castle. Pocket Money Loans by Darren Cullen, easy cash for kids!Paul Insect and Bast, dancing dude. Donald Duck has fallen on hard times. Seagull pizza thieves. And then it was over, yes there were a couple of things we didn’t get to see because of the lengthy queues, but we’d gotten around most of it. And I’m sorry, but I thought it was fantastic, I’m only dismal because it’s gone now…